Last night, Berwick Kaler was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Great British Pantomime Awards. Berwick has become the heart and soul of Pantomime in York over the past four decades,building up an army of fans, old and new who go every year to see a masterclass in Dame-hood, mayhem and mischief!

Berwick was surprised on stage by his mate, Christopher Biggins, during the final moment of this last performance.

Berwick’s career has spanned 40 years on stage as the resident dame at the Theatre Royal York.

Berwick Kaler has been awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the years Great British Pantomime Awards.Christopher Biggins himself received this award in 2016.

Chris Biggins who presented the award said ‘I’ve known Berwick for over 30 years and when ever I am asked who is the best dame in the county, my immediate answer is Berwick Kaler, he is unique, he is funny, he is extraordinary, he’s big, he’s brash, he’s simply the best and I cant look at wagon wheel in the same way since he started.’

The last night of the pantomime was attended by friends and family and loyal supports of the show and Berwick, many who had seen the run of this pantomime, ‘The Grand Old Dame of York’ many times before.

Berwick has been invited to officially accept his award at The Great British Pantomime Awards evening, on April 28th 2019 at the New Wimbledon Theatre,

It is with deep regret that here at IBY we have heard of the passing of the Impressario, Duncan C Weldon at the age of 77.

Duncan was a solo producer, but the world of Pantomime remembers him as a founder and partner of “Triumph Theatre Productions”.Created in 1970 with Paul Elliott and Richard Todd, the company produced its first show “No No Nanette” at Bournemouth in 1968, and lost virtually every penny. Triumph with Duncan and Paul at the helm went on to produce over 400 Pantomimes, not just in the UK but abroad over a long period- including London Palladium pantomime- the last being “Babes In The Wood” in 1987.

Triumph Theatre Productions has been in existence for over 54 years.

Triumph was a Pantomime Giant, and Duncan and Paul presented some of the top pantos of the time. In addition, the partnership of Paul Elliott and Duncan Weldon created West End and Broadway productions with stella International names, and of the highest quality in the business.

Here is a link to Duncan’s Obituary in today’s Guardian, and an article from The Spectator about the life of career of this man- a giant of theatre production in three continents. Sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him. Sincere condolences to his wife Ann, and to his family.

Windsor Davies died on Thursday at the age of 88. He will be sadly missed by all of Theatreland and Pantoland.

I was fortunate to appear in four Pantomimes with Windsor from 1990 through to 1993, all of them “Cinderella” with Peter Robbins and I as “Sisters” and Windsor as our Daddy- Baron Hardup. We did Cardiff New Theatre, followed almost immediately by The Grand Theatre Leeds, and then Croydon and finally Bournemouth Pavilion.

The season at Bournemouth (with June Brown) was especially lovely. In Croydon we all commuted, and Bournemouth was a chance to have evenings out after the show, and Peter cooked some dinners at the bungalow we rented. Windsor and June would arrive by cab, and into the wee small hours Peter and I would sit and listen to the brilliant stories, anecdotes and tales from these two incredible veterans of Theatre, film and Television. Nights like that you cannot ever hope to recreate!

Windsor began life just a few miles away from where I’m sitting typing this- in Canning Town, East London. His Welsh parents moved to Nant-Y-Moel in Bridgend in 1939 at the start of the Second World War.

Windsor with Charles Tingley and Margaret Rutherford

Originally he trained and worked as a teacher, but a connection with Stringer Davies, husband of Margaret Rutherford led to stage and later film appearances (as a policeman or Detective) in some of her films, including “Murder Most Foul” (1964) and “The Alphabet Murders”, always with Stringer and with Charles Tingwell.

He appeared in over twenty films in all, including two “Carry On” films- “Carry On England” and “Carry On Behind”.

In 1974 Windsor began filming the BBC Series “It Aint Half Mum”, set in a concert Party in India. It ran from 1974 to 1981, making him a huge star of Television with a catchphrase “Shut Up!” and “Lovely Boy!”

In 1975 Windsor and Don Estelle- “Lofty” in the series made a comedy single of the old crooners song “Whispering Grass” and it became a Number One Hit Record! The pair became a sought after “double act” in Concerts, Variety Shows and of course, Pantomimes.

In 1978 Windsor recorded “Grand Slam” for the BBC- a Drama with a Welsh cast including Hugh Griffiths and Sion Probert, set in Paris.

When “It Aint Half Hot Mum” ended in 1981 Windsor teamed up with (Sir) Donald Sinden in “Never The Twain” about two rival antique dealers. It ran for ten years to 1991. During this time he voiced Sgt Major Zero in the series “Terrahawks” from 1983 through to 1986.

Windsor made many appearances in The West End, and was a west End regular in Ray Cooney’s “Run For Your Wife” for Paul Elliott, and many pantomimes for Paul up until his retirement. He starred at The London Palladium Pantomime “Dick Whittington” in 1980, alongside Melvyn Hayes.

I think it was Bournemouth pantomime that saw me at Windsor’s house in Carshalton on Boxing Day morning. He was giving me a lift down to Bournemouth for the matinee. I was early, and the place was a glorious mess of Christmas presents, wrapping paper, family and Grandchildren. As we left the house and got in the car Windsor said “I don’t know if I can do this again- leave everyone here on Boxing Day and go off to work”.

We chatted away all the way to Bournemouth. He did his silly and ridiculous routine with his pet parrot “Polly”- a terrible prop with an obvious string to open its beak, leaning precariously on his shoulder. “Polly needs an asprin. There’s none in the jungle. Parrots Ate ‘em all…. She loves food.. eats all the time- Polly Filler.. “ total brilliant nonsense, which had nothing to do with Cinderella, but was everything to do with his amazing talent for silly all out panto performance. He was a master of farce, a master of Panto, and a truly lovely man.

Windsor died just four months after the death of his wife, Eluned. They had been married for 62 years. Our thoughts to Windsor’s family and especially to his Daughter, Jane. God Bless you Lovely Man.

Many of our followers have been in touch following an article in the Sun Newspaper this week following the Brexit Vote. As we draw to the end of the theatrical pantomime season it’s great to see that Parliament is offering it’s own version with this photoshopped picture of the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn!

One particular follower with a very keen eye spotted the original costumes and knew exactly where the picture had come from! A Cadbury photoshoot featuring our very own Nigel Ellacott and the much missed Peter Robbins.